Why do we need to specially understand the brain of a teenager? Isn’t the teen brain exactly like the adult brain? No, it isn’t. There is a big and important difference between the brain of a teenager and that of an adult.
And it is that the teen brain is not fully developed.
To get even more specific, the teen brain lacks executive functioning capabilities.
I.Executive Functioning Capabilities (EFC)
EFC refers to the set of capabilities in our brain that help us to think and behave rationally. For example, staying calm when somebody disagrees with you. Or staying focused on a task despite distractions. Understanding different points of view. Setting goals and seeing them through. Planning. Organising. Regulating emotions. Managing time efficiently. Managing tasks efficiently. Prioritising tasks.
II. Which part of the brain is responsible for EFC?
While several parts of the brain are involved in helping us with our EFC, the Prefrontal Cortex (PFC) is considered to be the seat of executive functioning. Our PFC is located all the way at the front of our brain (see part coloured in orange in the image below).
Here’s an easy way to remember this: EFC done by PFC!
III. Teens don’t have a fully mature PFC
The PFC of our brain develops last. Our brain grows from the bottom up. First comes the part of our brain critical for basic survival – the parts that help our lungs breathe and hearts beat. This part is called the brain stem. Next develops the midbrain which also consists of the limbic system – the midbrain is largely responsible for emotional development, i.e., helping us feel attached, angry, happy, scared etc. based on the situation. The last part to develop is the PFC and like I just told you, the PFC is responsible for helping us exercise self-control, regulate our emotions, and think logically.
PFC development gets completed only when we reach young adulthood, i.e., at least till 25 years of age. Latest research shows that in some cases, it can continue even into our early thirties.
IV. What are the implications?
Since teenagers don’t have a fully developed PFC, they will often act impulsively and emotionally. They will be quick to anger and slow to reason. Decision-making will usually happen from a place of heightened emotions and will involve high risk e.g. drinking and driving.
So the next time your teen throws a tantrum and starts wailing just because you said no to them staying up late on a school night, remember that it is not their fault. They don’t have full access to the tools yet that can help them regulate their emotions and understand another person’s perspective.
V. But there is hope!
Since your teen’s PFC is still maturing, they will be more emotional and risk-taking by nature. But does that mean that all we can do is to sit back and throw our hands up in the air every time we see our teen succumb to their emotions?
Not at all. This is where another bit of neuroscience can come handy. The teenage brain is also simultaneously going through a process called pruning. The best way to understand pruning is to think of it as brain exercise. When we exercise our body, the muscles that we use get stronger and the ones that we don’t lose strength. Our brain works the same way. The pathways in our brain that we use get strengthened, others get discarded. Keeping this in mind when we interact with our teen can help immensely. Here is one way to apply this knowledge: Encourage your teen to set goals every day and ask them later what their reflections on the day are. Simple exercises like these will make sure that your teen is constantly practising higher order thinking skills.
VI. In summary
The human brain is not fully developed till 25+ years. The Prefrontal Cortex (PFC) develops last. This means that teenagers’ logical brain is not fully developed and therefore they are more likely to behave impulsively and emotionally. And this is not their fault – you cannot use the tools that you don’t have access to, can you?
But the good news is that executive functioning capabilities can be taught and strengthened during teenage years. This will both aid stronger PFC development as your teen transitions into an adult and also ensure that these very skills become strong habits that will set your child up for a successful and productive future.
